What did people use before TP?

[nyctopgam]

If the Chinese invented paper, what did other people use to wipe before their invention spread? Ok, some cultures still use water - which ones? - but what about the ones who wipe today? Well-traveled JUBbers, can we hear from you?

 

[Kulindahr]

Out in the dunes or woods, I use selected leaves or occasionally moss.

 

[GreyUnderscore]

You see those huge leaves out there? That's all you need.

 

[bort138]

Their left hand

 

[The Fly]

Just drag your butt on the ground like a dog.

 

[ronboy]

Before flush toilets and toilet paper, Americans used these in their outhouses.....

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

Goslings and bunny rabbits were very popular.

 

[star-warrior]

 

[johaninsc]

 

[cabsterman]

now that is BIG wipe!

 

[SaskGuy]

I imagine they used leaves, maybe bits of cloth... some cultures use their left hand as well (I wonder what left-handed people do?).

 

[gingentleman]

...bits of old hoof...

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

I imagine they used leaves, maybe bits of cloth... some cultures use their left hand as well (I wonder what left-handed people do?).

Wipe their asses on the floor I suppose.

 

[yeahright1991]

Hopefully water. But I'm sure not everyone had access to clean water....so....Leaves and other foliage.

 

[Alnitak]

Poison ivy is not a French plant that smells like fish.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

Ancient Greek and Romans used natural sponges attached (tied) to a stick... and I believe they were communal.

 

[figjam]

If the Chinese invented paper, what did other people use to wipe before their invention spread? Ok, some cultures still use water - which ones? - but what about the ones who wipe today? Well-traveled JUBbers, can we hear from you?

They also invented gun power... Wonder what people used to shoot annoying and senseless JUB forum posters with before that....?

 

[nyctopgam]

They also invented gun power... Wonder what people used to shoot annoying and senseless JUB forum posters with before that....?

Spitballs, obviously... Hey, who did that?!

 

[CupidBoy]

Chickens.......

Vile creatures really.

 

[skinIsIn]

Before flush toilets and toilet paper, Americans used these in their outhouses.....

So prevalent was the use of catalogs as toilet paper throughout the early 20th century, that when Sears started to print on glossy paper in the 1930's, they saw a rapid decline of orders and requests for their catalogs (the Depression was also going on, so who really knows!?)

...The material of choice among colonial America was corn cobs. When daily newspapers became commonplace in the 1700's, paper became the material of choice...

...In the late 19th century, the Sears catalog became popular in rural America. People simply hung it up on a nail and had a free supply of 100's of pages of absorbent, uncoated paper. Corn cobs were still holding as a strong second place contender, however. Use of the Sears catalog declined in the 1930's due to the fact that they started printing on glossy, clay-coated paper. Many people complained to Sears about this glossy paper (Can you imagine writing a letter to Sears: Dear Sir, I want to register a complaint about your new glossy catalog paper. It is no longer soft and absorbent...).

Read on for a fascinating history of a dirty business!!

http://www.theplumber.com/toiletpapershortagefun.html